January of any year is famously all about promises.  At the beginning of the year we usually reflect on the last and resolve to change in the year ahead.  Change is good, it means we are moving forward and not feeling so stuck.  But, where I always get stuck is the ‘talking’ about change instead [...]

www.parentsask.com is a new place to go on the Internet to get interesting, informative, and accurate parenting information.  It’s a place for you to ask questions about your kids.  You talk to other parents, get their opinions and suggestions for any issue you are facing in your family.  You can post a question yourself, ask [...]

Summer vacation… kids cannot wait and parents look forward to less structure and fun. But by the middle of July, the dreams of carefree summer fun seem to fade. Why? 
 
Kids love to predict: they want to know what’s coming next so they can manage their behavior. Even though it sounds great to just relax, [...]

Ever get up “on the wrong side of the bed” and don’t know why?
At one time or another just about everybody experiences not knowing why they feel the way they do.  Kids get even more confused than parents do about their feelings.  All kids behaviors are in response to some sort of feeling and most [...]

Fathers should be appreciated all year… not just on one day! While Father’s Day is a tremendous idea, we all need to affirm Dads for their significance every day of the year.
I come from a long line of fantastic fathering men. My grandfathers were both grand fathering me from birth to their deaths. My Dad, [...]

In celebration of Mother’s Day, I’d like to share a special poem with you that was given to me by a mom that I had been working with earlier this year. She was a new mommy having trouble adjusting to being a stay-at-home-mom after the birth of her second child. She came seeking guidelines in [...]

Dr. Ann,
My 4 year old daughter is very bright; she wears panties and is completely potty trained for peeing, however, requests diapers for pooping.
Over this past year, we have tried various methods, bribery, pooping on the potty, making her responsible for the process.  She has accomplished pooping in her little potty on 5 different occasions–twice [...]

Dr Ann,
 
Nick turned 3 in February and he has been wearing underwear since about Sept.  He always goes potty in the toilet (standing up – like daddy).  He takes the initiative to go by himself or he asks for help.  However, he still poops in his pants.  He will wait until nap or nighttime when [...]

Dear Dr. Ann,
We are at the end of our rope trying to train our daughter to use the toilet.  Is there any point when you go get tough with a child and insist they use the potty or else?
The bottom line is it won’t do you any good to threaten a child!
Learning to use the [...]

Hello Dr. Ann,
I am attending your Toddler Talk class in Mission Viejo, and you mentioned that I could send you email with more detail about my son’s situation – I thank you for that offer.
 
My son does not want to poop in the toilet, he always asks for a pull-up. He is constipated and we [...]